Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Incumbent Alex White since 11 July 2014
Appointer	President of Ireland on the nomination of the Taoiseach
Inaugural holder	Seán Etchingham as Director of Fisheries
Formation	26 August 1921
Website	www.dcenr.gov.ie

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Irish: An tAire Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Achmhainní Nádúrtha) is the senior minister at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in the Government of Ireland.

The current Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is Alex White, TD. He is assisted by:

• Joe McHugh, TD – Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources

Overview

The Department has responsibilities in the areas of:

Communications

• Communications development – promotion of the provision and development of competitive high quality and world class services in the communications, electronic and mobile commerce sectors.
• Business and technology – focusing on new business and technology applications and the development of policies, initiatives and legislation as appropriate.
• Regulatory affairs – the development of effective policies for the regulation of the electronic communications sector and management of the radio frequency spectrum.
• Postal services – the development of an effective policy for the Irish postal sector based on open market principles.
• It is seen as a replacement to the old Department of Posts and Telegraphs.

Natural Resources

• The Petroleum Affairs Division aims to:
  • maximise the benefits to the State from exploration for and production of indigenous oil and gas resources;
  • ensure that activities are conducted safely and with due regard to their impact on the environment and other land/sea users.
• The Exploration and Mining Division of the Department is charged with:
  • applying the Minerals Development Act to minerals exploration and development;
  • encouraging the early identification and responsible development by private investors of the Nation's minerals deposits in accordance with best international practice;
  • enhancing the attractiveness of Ireland for international and national minerals investment by active promotional measures.
• The Geological Survey of Ireland is:
  • Ireland's National Earth Science Agency, and is responsible for providing geological advice and information.

Energy

• To develop a competitive energy supply industry
• To ensure security and reliability of energy supply
• To develop energy conservation and end-use efficiency

Broadcasting

The Broadcasting Division aims to:

• Develop a policy and legislative framework to facilitate the provision of quality broadcasting services in Ireland
• To optimise the opportunities presented by the emerging technologies for the provision of new Irish-based broadcasting services.

Marine

The Department has a wide range of roles and functions in the areas of:

• Public safety
• Environmental protection
• Coastal zone

From January 2006 several areas including The Irish Coast Guard, Marine Survey Office and Maritime Safety Division, were moved to the Department of Transport.

List of office-holders

Director of Fisheries 1919–1921
No.	Name	Term of office		Party
1.	Seán Etchingham	2 April 1919	26 August 1921		Sinn Féin
Secretary for Fisheries 1921–1922
No.	Name	Term of office		Party
	Seán Etchingham	26 August 1921	9 January 1922		Sinn Féin
Minister for Fisheries 1922–1930
No.	Name	Term of office		Party
2.	Fionán Lynch	14 December 1922	3 April 1930		Cumann na nGaedheal
Minister for Lands and Fisheries 1930–1937
No.	Name	Term of office		Party
	Fionán Lynch	3 April 1930	9 March 1932		Cumann na nGaedheal
3.	P. J. Ruttledge	9 March 1932	8 February 1933		Fianna Fáil
4.	Joseph Connolly	8 February 1933	29 May 1936		Fianna Fáil
5.	Frank Aiken	3 June 1936	11 November 1936		Fianna Fáil
6.	Gerald Boland	11 November 1936	21 July 1937		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Lands 1937–1977
No.	Name	Term of office		Party
	Gerald Boland	21 July 1937	8 September 1939		Fianna Fáil
7.	Thomas Derrig (1st time)	8 September 1939	2 July 1943		Fianna Fáil
8.	Seán Moylan	2 July 1943	18 February 1948		Fianna Fáil
9.	Joseph Blowick (1st time)	18 February 1948	7 March 1951		Clann na Talmhan
	Thomas Derrig (2nd time)	13 June 1951	2 June 1954		Fianna Fáil
	Joseph Blowick (2nd time)	2 June 1954	20 March 1957		Clann na Talmhan
10.	Erskine H. Childers	20 March 1957	23 July 1959		Fianna Fáil
11.	Micheál Ó Móráin	23 July 1959	26 March 1968		Fianna Fáil
12.	Pádraig Faulkner	26 March 1968	2 July 1969		Fianna Fáil
13.	Seán Flanagan	2 July 1969	14 March 1973		Fianna Fáil
14.	Tom Fitzpatrick (1st time)	14 March 1973	2 December 1976		Fine Gael
15.	Paddy Donegan	2 December 1976	9 February 1977		Fine Gael
Minister for Fisheries 1977–1978
No.	Name	Term of office		Party
	Paddy Donegan	9 February 1977	5 July 1977		Fine Gael
16.	Brian Lenihan	5 July 1977	15 July 1978		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Fisheries and Forestry 1978–1986
No.	Name	Term of office		Party
	Brian Lenihan	15 July 1978	11 December 1979		Fianna Fáil
17.	Paddy Power	12 December 1979	30 June 1981		Fianna Fáil
	Tom Fitzpatrick (2nd time)	30 June 1981	9 March 1982		Fine Gael
18.	Brendan Daly (1st time)	9 March 1982	14 December 1982		Fianna Fáil
19.	Paddy O'Toole (1st time)	14 December 1982	14 February 1986		Fine Gael
20.	Liam Kavanagh	14 February 1986	19 February 1986		Labour Party
Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry 1986–1987
No.	Name	Term of office		Party
	Liam Kavanagh	19 February 1986	20 January 1987		Labour Party
	Paddy O'Toole (2nd time)	20 January 1987	10 March 1987		Fine Gael
	Brendan Daly (2nd time)	10 March 1987	20 March 1987		Fianna Fáil
Minister for the Marine 1987–1997
No.	Name	Term of office		Party
	Brendan Daly (2nd time)	20 March 1987	12 July 1989		Fianna Fáil
21.	John Wilson	12 July 1989	11 February 1992		Fianna Fáil
22.	Michael Woods (1st time)	11 February 1992	12 January 1993		Fianna Fáil
23.	David Andrews	12 January 1993	15 December 1994		Fianna Fáil
24.	Hugh Coveney	15 December 1994	23 May 1995		Fine Gael
25.	Seán Barrett	23 May 1995	26 June 1997		Fine Gael
	Michael Woods (2nd time)	26 June 1997	12 July 1997		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Marine and Natural Resources 1997–2002
No.	Name	Term of office		Party
	Michael Woods (2nd time)	12 July 1997	27 January 2000		Fianna Fáil
26.	Frank Fahey	27 January 2000	6 June 2002		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources 2002–2007
No.	Name	Term of office		Party
27.	Dermot Ahern	6 June 2002	29 September 2004		Fianna Fáil
28.	Noel Dempsey	29 September 2004	14 June 2007		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 2007–present
No.	Name	Term of office		Party
29.	Eamon Ryan	14 June 2007	23 January 2011		Green Party
30.	Pat Carey	23 January 2011	9 March 2011		Fianna Fáil
31.	Pat Rabbitte	9 March 2011	11 July 2014		Labour Party
32.	Alex White	11 July 2014	Incumbent		Labour Party

See also

• Minister for Communications
• Irish cabinets since 1919
• Irish Land Commission

External links

• Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources